Search

Government of Canada provides historic funding in support of heart and stroke research

TORONTO, Jan. 11 /CNW/ - The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of
Finance, and the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, today announced
$15 million to support the Heart and Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke
Recovery. This is the largest investment ever provided to stroke recovery and
rehabilitation research in Canada.
"Our government is making significant investments in science and
technology to improve our quality of life and sustain economic growth today
and into the future," said Minister Flaherty. "By supporting centres of
excellence like the Heart and Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke Recovery we
are targeting resources to areas where Canada has the potential to be a world
leader or is currently leading the way."
"The Heart and Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke Recovery is moving new
discoveries from the lab to the bedside faster than ever before and is the
first of its kind in the world to streamline research, stroke care, and stroke
recovery," said Minister Clement. "By continuing to make breakthrough
discoveries and innovating treatments, the Centre is generating new hope for
stroke survivors and their families."
The Heart and Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke Recovery brings
together three institutions - Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Baycrest, and
the University of Ottawa.
The Centre is developing new ways to repair the brain after stroke and is
unique in the world in bringing together basic research, clinical research and
patient care toward the common goal of reducing disability in stroke patients.
"The Heart and Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke Recovery is a unique
public-private partnership devoted to optimizing stroke recovery," says Dr.
Sandra Black, Site Director, Heart and Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke
Recovery and Medical Director of the Regional Stroke Centre for North/East GTA
at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. "This investment by the Government of
Canada will continue to position the Centre as a beacon for the rest of the
stroke community internationally."
According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, research funding into
stroke rehabilitation and recovery programs needs to grow exponentially to
keep up with the rising number of stroke survivors in Canada. Over 15,000
Canadians die as a result of stroke every year - and currently 300,000 are
living with its effects. Statistics also show that more than 70 percent of
stroke survivors are left with some degree of disability; and two thirds of
strokes occur among people over 65.
"Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in Canada and the number one
cause of serious long-term adult disability," says Mike LeClair, volunteer
Chair, Board of Directors, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation, a volunteer-based health charity, leads
in eliminating heart disease and stroke and reducing their impact through the
advancement of research and its application, the promotion of healthy living,
and advocacy.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke Recovery is one of
seven centres that received federal funding to support its operations through
the Budget 2007.
/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available on
the CNW Photo Network and archived at http://photos.newswire.ca.
Additional archived images are also available on the CNW Photo Archive
website at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited
members of the media/